EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY
Luke and Biggs are walking and drinking a malt brew. Fixer and the others can be heard working inside.
LUKE
(Very animated)
... so I cut off my power, shut down
the afterburners and came in low on
Deak's trail. I was so close I
thought I was going to fry my
instruments. As it was I busted up
the Skyhopper pretty bad. Uncle
Owen was pretty upset. He grounded
me for the rest of the season. You
should have been there... it was
fantastic.
BIGGS
You ought to take it a little easy
Luke. You may be the hottest
bushpilot this side of Mos Eisley,
but those little Skyhoppers are
dangerous. Keep it up, and one day,
whammo, you're going to be nothing
more than a dark spot on the down
side of a canyon wall.
LUKE
Look who's talking. Now that
you've been around those giant
starships you're beginning to sound
like my uncle. You've gotten soft
in the city...
BIGGS
I've missed you kid.
LUKE
Well, things haven't been the same
since you left, Biggs. It's been
so...quiet.
Biggs looks around then leans close to Luke.
BIGGS
Luke, I didn't come back just to
say goodbye... I shouldn't tell
you this, but you're the only one
I can trust... and if I don't come
back, I want somebody to know.
Luke's eyes are wide with Biggs' seriousness and loyalty.
LUKE
What are you talking about?
BIGGS
I made some friends at the Academy.
(he whispers)
... when our frigate goes to one
of the central systems, we're going
to jump ship and join the Alliance...
Luke, amazed and stunned, is almost speechless.
LUKE
Join the Rebellion?! Are you
kidding! How?
BIGGS
Quiet down will ya! You got a
mouth bigger than a meteor crater!
LUKE
I'm sorry. I'm quiet.
(he whispers)
Listen how quiet I am. You can
barely hear me...
Biggs shakes his head angrily and then continues.
BIGGS
My friend has a friend on Bestine
who might help us make contact.
LUKE
YouÕre crazy! You could wander
around forever trying to find them.
BIGGS
I know it's a long shot, but if
I don't find them I'll do what I
can on my own... It's what we
always talked about. Luke, I'm
not going to wait for the Empire to
draft me into service. The Rebellion
is spreading and I want to be on the
right side - the side I believe in.
LUKE
And I'm stuck here...
BIGGS
I thought you were going to the
Academy next term. You'll get your
chance to get off this rock.
LUKE
Not likely! I had to cancel my
application. There has been a lot
of unrest among the Sand People since
you left... they've even raided
the outskirts of Anchorhead.
BIGGS
Your uncle could hold off a whole
colony of Sand People with one blaster.
LUKE
I know, but he's got enough vaporators
going to make the place pay off. He
needs me for just one more season.
I can't leave him now.
BIGGS
I feel for you, Luke, you're going
to have to learn what seems to be
important or what really is important.
What good is all your uncle's work if
it's taken over by the Empire?... You
know they're starting to nationalize
commerce in the central systems...
it won't be long before your uncle
is merely a tenant, slaving for the
greater glory of the Empire.
LUKE
It couldn't happen here. You said
it yourself. The Empire won't bother
with this rock.
BIGGS
Things always change.
LUKE
I wish I was going... Are you
going to be around long?
BIGGS
No, I'm leaving in the morning...
LUKE
Then I guess I won't see you.
BIGGS
Maybe someday... I'll keep a
lookout.
LUKE
Well, I'll be at the Academy next
season... after that who knows. I
won't be drafted into the Imperial
Starfleet that's for sure... Take
care of yourself, you'll always be
the best friend I've got.
BIGGS
So long, Luke.
Biggs turns away from his old friend and heads back towards the power station.
